Category: Biology

Microbiology is a subfield of biology. It studies the world of microscopic organisms like bacteria and viruses and the way those interact with humans and our environment. Microbiology also concerns itself with the study of parasites, fungi, and algae.

This field is mysterious, intriguing, and often overlooked. That’s why I’ve decided to reveal some fascinating facts about the micro world and the people who made it so prevalent today.

Most of the time, microbes and other small creatures are analyzed with the help of a high-resolution microscope. If you pay attention, you can see their shape, size, and even number. Some microbes, like spirochetes, move around a lot, which is mesmerizing to watch through the lenses.

Moreover, you don’t have to be a doctor or a scientist to admire this natural spectacle. You can buy yourself a microscope from the Internet and do it at home. You can even purchase slides with all kinds of microorganisms to analyze. Who knows, you might also make a breakthrough discovery.

Another cool thing about microbes is that they are virtually everywhere. And this ubiquity is not a bad thing. For example, the bacteria in your digestive system help you break down foods and absorb vitamins and minerals. Additionally, the good bacteria on your skin and other areas of the body prevent the harmful ones from growing and causing diseases.

Some of the oldest life forms in the world are thought to be viruses and bacteria. Which means we are their descendants. A few years ago, 50 million-year-old spores had been revived, which only shows how resilient these micro-creatures are because they survived in suspended animation in salt crystals for all that time.

Another curious fact, which I think is mind-blowing, is that each of our cells contains bacteria. Each of these bacteria is not a living one, but rather a shell. And this is the famous powerhouse of the cell – the mitochondria. Scientists believe mitochondria to be ancient bacteria that morphed with lipids to create the necessary blocks of evolved life.

Although an adult has more bacteria than he or she has cells, a mind-bending fact is that we are born completely bacteria-free. The mother’s womb is utterly sterile since her immune system attacks everything that could potentially harm the baby. All the microorganisms humans carry are acquired in the first years of life.

Microbiology has reached new heights. Scientists can now engineer bacteria and viruses to cure many diseases, and it is thought that in the future they can even be used to treat conditions like Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, instead of hating bacteria, we should use them to our advantage and learn a great deal from their resilience and adaptability.